DOVER — Herman Cain says he isn't afraid to show his true self, and for the 2012 Republican presidential hopeful from Georgia, his true self is a passionate drive for inciting change.

He is hoping to create change from the uppermost political stage in the country.

During a meeting with the Foster's Daily Democrat editorial board Thursday, he spoke about what the country needs — a problem solver, not a politician; what's wrong with Obama — he isn't demonstrating strong leadership; and his strategy for getting elected — he'll take his ideas right to the American people.

He also said he brings to the table "common sense solutions," and his messages have been well-received at the few political events he's attended thus far. Cain admits he is a non-traditional candidate as he has no political experience, but said his exploratory committee has arrived at results for public support that exceeded their expectations.

"People were enthusiastic about my passion and my common sense," Cain said, adding that while he might tone down his vivacious attitude while campaigning, he's not going to hide who he is.

"This is who I am," he said. "I'm not going to be a vanilla debater or spokesperson who when you get done talking people have no idea what you said."

While he may not have previously held a political position, Cain stressed that his business background and approach to problem solving is something that's missing in Washington.

He's worked his way up the corporate ladder, starting in the Department of the Navy, then working at the Coca-Cola Company, then the Pillsbury Company, then becoming vice president of Burger King and later, president of Godfather's Pizza. He ran the National Restaurant Association, ran for U.S. Senate in Georgia, coming in second, and has been hosting a radio talk show for the last five years while doing some keynote speaking and serving on several corporate boards.

China's continuing growth against America's growing debt, coupled with rising gas prices and U.S. involvement in several wars, has Cain concerned and feeling a call to take action.

In terms of the nation's debt, he said if elected he would immediately work to identify whole programs that "must go" — areas where there is unnecessary overlap or duplication in government.

To stimulate the economy, Cain said he'd like to see the taxes on repatriated profits removed completely, which he estimates would bring back $1 trillion to the U.S. economy as businesses stop leaving that money overseas.

He supports drilling for oil to bring down gas prices and decrease U.S. dependancy on foreign oil.

"This administration is doing everything they can to choke off that exploration," he said of the Gulf, adding "every time" money and time is invested to explore to get oil, "this administration finds a way to slap their hands and set them back."

He suggests lowering the capital gains tax rate to zero. In response to the argument that in doing so he would be rewarding rich people, Cain said the country needs to stop playing the race and class warfare cards.

"It's not about rewarding rich people," he said. "It's about allowing people who take risks with their cash to put it in a community bank so the community bank can have money to loan to the small business person."

As a black man, Cain said he doesn't think Obama's election has helped improve the country's views on race — in fact, he says it's gotten worse.

He cited a night on his radio show when a caller called him "shameless" for criticizing a black president.

"When we can no longer criticize a person in a political position, we have become a nation of tyranny," Cain said.

When he has heard people say the Tea Party is racist, he only has one response: "Bull feathers!"

"It is ridiculous to try and label it racist," he said. "What the left is trying to do is protect his (Obama's) politics."

He said Obama's "surrogates" selectively use the race card and the class warfare card to push his political agenda.

"You need a president who promotes a message of personal responsibility and not victimhood," Cain said. "That would be my message. And I can carry that message because I can share with people my background as an example of what you can do if you stop focusing on what the color of your skin is. Imagine me doing that from the Oval Office."

Concerning the wars in which America has become involved, Cain said if elected, he would call in experts and generals and ask them what the situation is there.

He asserts decisions about what to do should be made only if certain questions can be answered: What's the mission, it is winnable and if so, what's it going to take? If it's not winnable, what's the exit strategy? He also said "victory" should be defined.

"If we can't define what is victory, we haven't answered the critical questions," he said.

He said he doesn't know if the U.S. should be in Libya but disagrees with Obama's recent statement that if enough people are getting killed somewhere in the world, the U.S. has a humanitarian interest in going in there.

"We cannot be the policeman for the world," Cain said. "One of the criteria for defining victory is how does it serve the interests of the United States of America. With Libya and Egypt — I still come back to that question."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.